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Electric bicycles are now outselling electric cars and plug-in hybrids combined in the US

From Elektrek.co

by Micah Toll

Electric bicycle sales have been on a skyward trajectory since early in the pandemic, and new numbers show they are selling more units than electric cars and plug-in hybrids combined.

Those figures recently released by the Light Electric Vehicle Association trade group help bolster the case for personal electric vehicles as alternatives to larger cars and trucks.

According to data released by the LEVA, the US saw nearly 790,000 electric bike imports in 2021. That marks a 70% increase from the 463,000 imports in 2020.

Also in 2021, Americans purchased 652,000 electric cars and plug-in hybrids, according to BloombergNEF.

That data for electric bicycle adoption in the US sits far behind Europe, where e-bike sales have outpaced electric car and hybrid sales for years, and are on pace to outsell all cars (ICE included) in the next few years.

Europe and Asia still handily outsell the US when it comes to electric bikes. The LEVA estimates sales of 3 million and 35 million electric bicycles annually in Europe and Asia, respectively.

Image courtesy of Aventon

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Get A Factory Fresh Chain In Less Than 10 Minutes! | Maintenance Monday

Some of us cyclists are really good at cleaning our chains after every ride, whereas some of us… aren’t that good. Either way saving time on your maintenance means more time for everything else in your life, be it watching live racing on GCN+ or just riding your bike! Alex takes you through his ultimate chain cleaning guide!

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Santa Claus Lane Bikeway project

From Edhat.com

The Santa Claus Lane Bikeway project will begin construction after Labor Day and run through summer 2023. The project will create a new Class I bikeway and multipurpose path to connect Santa Claus Lane to Carpinteria Avenue. This will close a gap in the California Coastal Trail between Sand Point Road and Carpinteria Avenue (see map below). The new bikeway will be constructed in between Highway 101 and the railroad tracks.

As part of the bikeway project, the intersection at Carpinteria Avenue and Estero Street will be updated with new crosswalks, signage, landscaping, curbs and gutters, and bike lanes (see rendering below).  At the western end of the project, a new vehicular turnaround will be built at the end of Santa Claus Lane.

Driveway Closures on Carpinteria Avenue
Bikeway construction will necessitate closing alternate business driveways off of Carpinteria Avenue for short periods of time. The western first and third driveways will be closed from September to November. The middle driveway will be closed after the surrounding driveways from November to December. Driveways on either side of each driveway closure will remain open. Please see map above for driveway closure dates and locations.

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Opinion: These are the streets that readers want closed to cars

From LATimes.com

BY PAUL THORNTON

It’s only a small stretch of quiet road, but in Los Angeles — where nearly 300 people were killed in traffic last year, and where neighborhoods were designed to maximize automotive throughput — the permanent closure of Griffith Park Drive to car traffic represents a welcome new way of thinking about streets. Our streets, after all, are public spaces, and repurposing them according to their safest and best use by people is an undertaking that should be brought to all parts of Los Angeles.

In that spirit, the Times Editorial Board asked readers where they’d like to see other car-free streets. The suggestions cover many parts of Los Angeles and mostly call for reworking streets that already see a lot of pedestrian and cyclist use, where driving is already inconvenient or slow. A few readers, however, want L.A. to go really bold and close off long arterials to motorists.

As a cyclist and sidewalk wanderer myself, I’d say all of these ideas are worth considering (though many motorists would probably disagree). At the very least, the suggestions show plenty of us want safer, more complete streets.

Screengrab from Google

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What Is The Best Position For Descending? | GCN Tech Clinic

On this week’s GCN Tech Clinic, Alex and Ollie answer your questions on the most aero riding position for descending, whether single use quick links can actually be reused, what would happen if you pumped water into your tyres & more!

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Editorial: Griffith Park road closes for good. Hooray! Which streets should be next?

From LATimes.com

That was fast. At the end of June, the city of Los Angeles temporarily banned cars from a segment of Griffith Park Drive to reduce speeding cut-through traffic and protect park users. The test was such a success that the parks department has decided to permanently close the two-thirds-of-a-mile route to vehicles.

Good. Now do it again.

The test showed that Angelenos are ready to embrace car-free streets, particularly when the closures result in safer recreation spaces. The response from park users was overwhelmingly positive, officials said. Now cyclists, equestrians and pedestrians can travel that stretch of Griffith Park without fearing a motorist will come barreling around a corner.

It also demonstrated that L.A. can move quickly and decisively for safer streets. The road closure pilot was launched and completed in a matter of weeks. That is lightning speed for the city, noted Councilmember Nithya Raman, whose office helped drive the effort.

(Screenshot via Google My Maps)

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The Best Early Labor Day Sales on Bike Gear to Shop Now

From Bicycling.com

TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THESE DEALS AND SAVE BIG ON CYCLING GEAR, APPAREL, SHOES, AND E-BIKES.

BY KEVIN CORTEZ

Labor Day is on the horizon but the deals have already kicked off. When it comes to bicycling, you can expect deep discounts now through Labor Day weekend on pieces from brands like Nike, Pearl Izumi, Gore Wear, and Rad Power Bikes. From cycling shoes and apparel to full-blown bikes and e-bikes, check out these great Labor Day sales before these items sell out.

This article will be updated through Labor Day weekend with up-to-date pricing information. The discounts reflected below may vary based on size and color.

What kind of sales can we expect on Labor Day 2022?

Although Labor Day is officially on Sept. 5, most retailers will begin their Labor Day sales events a week or more in advance. We’ve rounded a slew of cycling pieces on sale right now, but you can expect to see several more deals surface starting Aug. 26, one week before Labor Day weekend.

What kind of Labor Day cycling deals can we shop right now?

Several brands and retailers are expected to offer Labor Day-specific sales on sporting goods and equipment, including Amazon, REI, and Backcountry. Right now, you can expect clearance items hitting end-of-summer sales as retailers make more inventory space for the fall and winter seasons.

If you’re looking for a bike to shop, right now you can take advantage of Rad Power Bikes’ end-of-summer sale and save up to $400 off a brand new e-bike. You can also save up to 30 percent off select accessories. Hurry, though, because this sales event ends on Aug. 28.

Meanwhile, Charge is having its own sale on e-bikes. While its current promotion gives $300 off all bikes, the company has offered a specific coupon for Bicycling users: use coupon code BICYCLING350 to get $350 off any E-bike at Charge. This includes the Comfort 1, the improved Comfort 2, the all-terrain XC, and our favorite, the City.

 

Image courtesy of REI

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How & Why To Adjust The Headset On Your Bike | Maintenance Monday

Your headset is an integral part of your bike as it controls everything to do with turning your handlebars. Alex explains all you need to know about headsets, including how to fit, check and adjust yours, as well as potential issues that you may find on your bike.

 

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“GoSGV” E-Bike Program Rolls Out in the SGV

From ColoradoBoulevard.net

BY

Excessive heat can make walking or biking around the San Gabriel Valley a challenge. Enter the E-bike, an affordable alternative to an electric car that helps beat the heat and makes riding the foothills a relative breeze.

With advances in battery technology and small electric motors, e-bike performance has advanced by leaps and bounds over the past five years, leading to a dramatic increase in popularity around the world. In the United States more e-bikes are now sold than e-cars. In southern California residents of coastal communities have been among the most enthusiastic early adopters. Travel to just about any beach city this summer and you’ll find young adults, older adults, and families zipping around on e-bikes of all shapes and sizes.

Amidst these developments and after several years of planning, the San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments and Active San Gabriel Valley have launched a program – GoSGV– to help inland residents experience life with an e-bike at an affordable price. For about the same cost of renting an electric bike for a few hours in Santa Monica, San Gabriel Valley residents can ride a GoSGV ebike for an entire month.

 

Photo by Gotrax on Unsplash

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That Car Ban In Griffith Park Is Now Permanent — And More Road Changes Are On The Way

From LAist.com

By Ryan Fonseca

The car ban on a short stretch of road in Griffith Park that started out as temporary is now here to stay. The city of L.A.’s Board of Recreation and Parks Commissioners voted unanimously on Thursday to make the ban permanent.

Back in late June, a ⅔ mile section of Griffith Park Drive was closed to car traffic from the Travel Town Museum to Mt. Hollywood Drive. The road had become a popular route for speeding drivers looking to avoid slowdowns on the nearby 134 and 5 freeways. That made the park a dangerous place for the people walking, biking, riding horses or otherwise enjoying the public space as intended.

City Councilmember Nithya Raman, who oversees Griffith Park as part of the city’s 4th Council District, had already been exploring ways to improve traffic safety in the park. But those efforts were fast-tracked after cyclist Andrew Jelmert, 77, was killed by a driver there in April.

“I am so excited to bring the road revolution home to Council District 4,” Raman said in a news release. “Our office, in partnership with the Department of Recreation and Parks, worked with lightning speed to make this closure along Griffith Park Drive a reality, and we have been overwhelmed with the outpouring of support from the community.”

 

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